Executive Summary

2. Potential Benefits of Nanotechnology Currently under Debate
2.1. Introduction    
2.2. Energy    
2.2.1 Reduction of energy consumption         
2.2.2 Increasing the efficiency of energy production         
2.2.3 The use of environmentally friendly energy systems         
2.2.4 Recycling of batteries         
2.3. Life sciences and health care    
2.3.1 Diagnostics         
2.3.2 Drug delivery         
2.3.3 Tissue engineering         
2.4. Automotive Industry and Mobility    
2.4.1. Environmental aspects         
2.4.2. Safety aspects         
2.4.3. Outlook         
2.5 Information and Communication    
2.5.1. Top down strategies, how far can we go?         
2.5.2 Novel semiconductor devices         
2.5.3 Novel optoelectronic devices         
2.5.4 Displays         
2.5.5 Quantum Computer         
2.6 Chemistry and Environment    
2.6.1 Production of nanoparticles         
2.6.2 Catalysis         
2.6.3 Filtration         
2.7. Consumer goods    
2.7.1. Foods         
2.7.2. Household         
2.7.3. Optics         
2.7.4. Textiles         
2.7.5. Sports         
2.7.6. Cosmetics         
2.8. Conclusion    

3. Potential Risks of Nanotechnologies
3.1. Introduction    
3.2. Initiatives, centres and projects dedicated to risks assessment of nanotechnologies    
3.3. Potential impacts of nanotechnologies on health    
3.3.1. Potential risks of nanoparticles         
3.3.1.1. Size effects              
3.3.1.2. Shape and composition effects              
3.3.1.3. Examples of consequences              
3.3.1.3.1. Experiments on animals                   
3.3.1.3.2. Extrapolation to humans                   
3.3.2. Potential risks of fullerenes and carbon nanotubes         
3.3.2.1. Examples of studies on animals              
3.3.2.1.1 Experiments on rats and mice                   
3.3.3.1.2 Experiments on rabbits                   
3.3.3.1.3 Experiments on fish                   
3.3.2.2. Examples of studies: extrapolation to humans              
3.3.3. Potential risks of other nano-elements         
3.3.4 Conclusion         
3.4. Potential impacts of nanotechnologies on environment and the food chain    
3.4.1. Consequences of nanotechnologies on environment and the food chain         
3.4.1.1. Impact of the dispersion of nanosized materials in the environment              
3.4.1.2. Impact on environment of the adsorption phenomenon on nanosized materials              
3.4.1.3. Effects of aggregation of nanosized materials on environment              
3.4.1.4. Biotic uptake of nanomaterials              
3.4.2. Methodologies considered for risks assessment of nanotechnologies on environment         
3.4.2.1. Measurement of accumulation              
3.4.2.2. Measurement of viability/mutagenic effects              
3.4.3 Conclusion         
3.5.Conclusions of Part 3         

4. Public Perception of Nanotechnology
4.1. Introduction    
4.2. Media and scenarios influencing the public perception    
4.2.1 Media         
4.2.2 The space elevator         
4.2.3 Nano-submarines         
4.2.4 Molecular assemblers         
4.3. Public Dialogue Projects    
4.4. Conclusion    

5. The Ethical Aspects and Political Implications of Nanotechnology
5.1. Introduction    
5.2. Ethical Systems    
5.3. What are the ethical considerations of nanotechnology?    
5.3.1. Risks – known and deduced         
5.3.2. Sharing knowledge         
5.3.3. Achieving public acceptance and ensuring equity         
5.4. The politics of nanotechnology – a balance of power    
5.4.1 Human: machine interface         
5.4.2 Military uses of nanotechnologies         
5.4.3 Lessons from the past and present         
5.4.4. Funding social science research         
5.4.5. Legislation and regulation         
5.5. Conclusions    

6. Invited contributions to the debate on ethical and societal implications of nanotechnology
6.1. Jean-Pierre Dupuy’s: “Complexity and Uncertainty; A prudential approach to Nanotechnology”    
6.2. Armin Grunwald: ”Nanotechnology – A New Field of Ethical Inquiry?”    
6.3. Douglas Parr: preprint version of “Will Nanotechnology make the world a better place?”     
6.4. Sylvia Speller: “From science fiction to science fact – a nano-scientist’s views on the current debate on      nanotechnology”

7. The need for new legislation and regulation caused by the emergence of nanotechnology
7.1. Introduction    
7.2. European regulations and directives    
7.2.1. European Union regulatory activities         
7.2.2. Other European regulatory activities         
7.3. National regulatory institutions and discussion groups    
7.3.1. Germany         
7.3.2. Switzerland         
7.3.3. United Kingdom         
7.3.4. The Netherlands         
7.3.5. France         
7.3.6. Belgium         
7.3.7. The United States         
7.4. Global regulatory activities and global action groups    
7.4.1. Miscellaneous Action Groups         
7.5. Standardisation and testing    
7.5.1 European Union metrology advices         
7.5.2 Other European metrology institutes         
7.5.3 Other European Standardisation activities         
7.6. National metrology institutes    
7.6.1. Germany         
7.6.2. United Kingdom         
7.6.3. China         
7.6.4. USA         
7.7. International Metrology Institutes    
7.8. Patenting    
7.9. Industrial Initiatives    
7.10. Conclusions